New app launched to tackle problems over dirty camping in area

Anew app is among the measures being introduced to help tackle dirty camping in Perth and Kinross.

The announcement was made by Perth and Kinross Council ahead of lockdown restrictions being eased.

It comes following an online meeting between the leader of the safer communities team Roddy Ross and Perthshire North candidate John Swinney.

The location app, what3words, will allow locals and visitors to pass on the location of dirty campers to Police Scotland.

It provides a unique, three-word reference for every three-metre square on the planet, allowing responding officers to pinpoint exact locations.

Andy Clegg, the council’s interim community greenspace manager said: “The council is looking forward to welcoming responsible visitors to Perth and Kinross as lockdown restrictions ease.

“We are working with our partners, across a number of areas to reduce the impact caused by the minority who may behave irresponsibly.

“Perth and Kinross Council is leading a multiagency visitor management working group including Police Scotland, Scottish Fire and Rescue, Forestry and Land Scotland and other agencies to manage the 2021 season.

“We will be working with local communities in a co-ordinated way to try to address the problems experienced last year.”

Further plans to tackle dirty camping include better bin provision, extra toilets and parking improvements.

The council is also recruiting a number of visitor rangers to “improve the visitor experience for communities and tourists”.

Meanwhile, the local authority has secured £500,000 from the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund to help improve facilities at the Loch Leven Heritage Trail and for facilities in Aberfeldy.

Following the Zoom meeting, Mr Swinney was optimistic the plans would have a positive impact.

“Dirty camping is a completely unacceptable blight on our rural communities,” he said.

“Whilst the steps put in place will not solve the problem entirely, I am confident that they will have a positive impact.

“I have agreed to continue liaising with Roddy and, if re-elected, I will continue to engage with all stakeholders on this issue, as I have done for a number of years. It is vital that all stakeholders work together to address this long-standing problem, and I am optimistic that we are now seeing tangible progress towards this goal.”

Highland Perthshire has been hit particularly hard by dirty camping, with residents having called for respectful behaviour.

In August last year, locals wrote a 1,600-word letter addressed to anyone planning to camp demanding that they do not chop down trees for firewood, defecate in fields, speed or enter gardens.

The letter read: “Be respectful. Be kind. Be courteous. Leave no trace behind of your visit. And please, use your common sense if you start a campfire.”

“Dirty camping is a completely unacceptable blight on our rural communities

CRACKDOWN: Rubbish left behind by campers. The new measures are being introduced ahead of coronavirus lockdown restrictions being eased.